.. _administration-faq:

Administration FAQ
==================

.. topic:: Duplicate log entries when using :func:`log()` function

  Because GenieACS uses a full fledged scripting language for device
  configuration, the only way to guarantee that it has satisfied the 'desired
  state' is by repeatedly executing the script until there's no more
  discrepancies with the current device state. Though it may seem like this
  will cause duplicate requests going to the device, this isn't actually the
  case because device configuration are stated declaratively and that the
  scripts themselves are pure functions in the context of a session (e.g.
  Date.now() always returns the same value within the session).

  To illustrate with an example, consider the following script:

  .. code:: javascript

    declare("Device.param", null, {value: 1});
    commit();
    declare("Device.param", null, {value: 2});

  This will set the value of the 'Device.param' to 1, then to 2. Then as the
  script is run again the value is set back to 1 and so on. A stable state will
  never be reached so GenieACS will execute the script a few times until it
  gives up and throws a fault. This is an edge case that should be avoided. A
  more typical case is where the script is run once or twice. Essentially if an
  execution doesn't result in any request to the CPE or a change in the data
  model then a stable state is deemed to have been reached.